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Yet Another Taxpayer-Funded University Study Smears Fox News
Townhall.com ^ | February 17, 2012 | Kyle Olson

Posted on 02/17/2012 7:14:56 AM PST by Kaslin

If the taxpayers of Delaware aren't startled by the following news, nothing will bother them:

The University of Delaware – which recently increased tuition by 7% on students – has just spent what we can only assume was a great deal of money to complete a "major survey" of how little Fox News viewers understand the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Seriously.

The earth-shaking evidence provided by this survey tells us that Fox viewers are the least likely among consumers of various media outlets to understand the "central message" of the Occupy movement: "Too few people control the majority of the nation's wealth and power."  Viewers of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report – both Comedy Central shows – know the most, according to the intrepid research.

But is that really the main message of the movement? From what we can tell, Occupy has been a largely violent, disorganized and hyper-emotional mess that has conveyed many strange and frightening messages.

We've heard various Occupy crowds chanting for the overthrow of the government. We've seen them waving signs suggesting that wealthy Americans should be murdered and eaten. We've heard Occupiers suggest that the U.S. should be a lot more like totalitarian Cuba. More than anything, we've had the impression that Occupy is largely a bunch of unproductive people searching for a free meal and a tent to sleep in.

But the University of Delaware says it's about the concentration of wealth. For the sake of argument, we can accept that.

The question is, so what?

Is it worth spending tax dollars to “prove” to the nation that Fox viewers don't share the liberal professors' passion and empathy for the Occupy movement? We could have told you that for free. The Marxist professors who dominate our public universities hate Fox News, and will take any opportunity to publicly insult it. But that has more to do with their own political viewpoint than public policy. How can they get away with using tax dollars to attack their personal political enemies?

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Dannagal Young, an assistant professor of communications and lead researcher of this study, recently wasted even more tax dollars to tell us that viewers of "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" - both satirical programs that lean to the left - are intellectually "deep."

It sounds to us like Young is more interested in angling for the presidency of the Colbert Report fan club than providing any worthwhile research.

As for Young's politics, there's no surprise there. She's a personal contributor to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

If we were residents of Delaware, we would march up to the statehouse this afternoon and demand a full refund of our misused and wasted tax dollars.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Delaware
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 02/17/2012 7:15:04 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
Gee! The same Delaware responsible for Joe Biteme and family? I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked...
2 posted on 02/17/2012 7:24:55 AM PST by LRS ("This is silly! It can't be! It can't be!!" "Oh yes it is! I said you wouldn't know the joint.")
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To: Kaslin
If Occupy’s chief ideologue were a bit more coherent, perhaps it would be easier for Fox reporters to present the movement as a bunch of centrist freedom fighters…
3 posted on 02/17/2012 7:29:30 AM PST by cartan
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To: Kaslin
Not that I side w/the study; but, FOX News is simply “stink on ice” abominable!!! ...can't even watch it anymore. OK, maybe Gretta; as although she's a Dem, she's usually fairly objective and has Sarah Palin on fairly regularly.

No depth, no insight, lots of banal, insipid , fluff interspersed w/either Rovian GOP-E or DNC “talking points.”

Sadly, CNN does a much better job of late than FOX ...yeah, FOX really has become THAT bad!!!

4 posted on 02/17/2012 7:52:13 AM PST by Ozymandias Ghost
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To: Kaslin

While the article’s point remains, the phony “anger” for the DE taxpayers makes little sense.

Less than 12% of UD is funded by the state.
UD has more out of state students than in-staters - the only state school with that situation.
DE has no sales tax.
DE has very low income and property tax.

Pure conjecture on my part, but I think UD might be the LAST state university for state residents to complain about.


5 posted on 02/17/2012 7:54:49 AM PST by whattajoke (Let's keep Conservatism real.)
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To: Kaslin

Do the students of University of Delaware now major in minor things such as “Poverty of Intelligence” ?

That said, it’s a beautiful campus. Heck, DE is beautiful, except for Wilmington after dark. (shudder)

Greenville, Centerville, Queerhobeth, Bethany Beach are fabulous places for relaxation. Winter or Summer, just beautiful.


6 posted on 02/17/2012 7:58:43 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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AS LONG AS YOU'RE HANGING AROUND ANYWAY,
COULD YOU HELP OUT WITH THE FREEPATHON?



Click the Pic


Support Free Republic

7 posted on 02/17/2012 8:02:42 AM PST by deoetdoctrinae (Gun-free zones are playgrounds for felons)
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To: Vendome

Was down in Rehoboth Beach Tuesday dining on the specials at Nicola’s. Not bad. This time of year is super. Very little traffic and lots of free vacant parking spaces.


8 posted on 02/17/2012 8:31:58 AM PST by animal172 (Calling the Founding Fathers!! We need your help.)
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To: Kaslin

This was the companion study to the one he did about how well CNN and MSNBC viewers understood the central message of the Tea Party, right? ;P


9 posted on 02/17/2012 9:43:38 AM PST by Explorer89 (And now, let the wild rumpus start!!)
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To: Ozymandias Ghost
....yeah, FOX really has become THAT bad!!!

So don't watch it then Ghost. Honestly, besides retired people, who has time to sit around watching much tv anyhow? You can get all the news you need when you need it from the internet. If you check in on Drudge, Instapundit, and HotAir regularly you don't really need to watch TV news.

10 posted on 02/17/2012 11:56:08 AM PST by MovementConservative (Go Mariners! 2012!)
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To: MovementConservative
“So don't watch it then Ghost.”
________________

Good Afternoon MC-

Point taken! (That was the point I was attempting to make ...but apparently failed at.)

Take care,

-Geoff

11 posted on 02/17/2012 12:16:22 PM PST by Ozymandias Ghost
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